Electric-arc lamp



(No Model.) I Q E. THOMSON & E. WLRIOE.

ELECTRIC ABC LAMP. No. 306,118. Patented Oct. 7, 1884.,

n. PETERS. Pnnwum n mr. Within-1510" u. t;

UNITED STATES lATnNT Fries. Y

ELIHU THOMSON AND E. \VILBUR RICE, OF LYN N MASS, ASSIGNORS TO THETHOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

-S'PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,118, datedOctober '7, 188%.

Application filed January 5, 1884.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we, ELIHU THOMSON and E.WILBUR RICE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Lynn, inthe county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Electric- Arc Lamps, of which thefollowing is a speci-. iication.

Our invention relates, generally speaking, to a class of electric-arclamps described and claimed in other applications for patent filedjointly or severally by us. In such other cases we have described a lampin which the lamp mechanism for the purpose of producing the I 5 properadjustment'of the carbons is under the control only of the current in ahigh-resistance derived circuit, and the starting of the lamp or thebringing of the mechanism into proper operating position is effected bymeans of ourrent in a starting coil or circuit which is closed or inoperative condition when the lamp is out of action or is about to start,and is immediately and automatically opened or thrown out of conditionby a circuit-controller or switch when the lamp mechanism has beenbrought into operative position by the agency of such starting circuitor coil, and is kept open so long as the lamp continues to operateproperly. A lamp operating on this principle is 0 described and broadlyclaimed in our application filed January 3, 1884, No. 116,300.

Our present invention relates more particularly to the construction andoperation of the cireuitcontroller, whereby the starting cir- 3 5 cuitor coil is rendered ineffective or inoperative, or is made effective andkept so until its function is accomplished.

Our invention consists, briefly speaking, in keeping thecircuit-controller in proper position to retain the starting-circuit inthe required relation for starting the lamp when the current is turnedon, by means of an electromagnet whose coils are in a branch around thecarbons closed when the current begins to flow, 5 so that it will beenergized to hold the con tacts of the circuit-controller closed untilthe carbons are permitted to come together, whereupon said magnet-coilswill be shunted, and the circuit-controller will thus be permitted toreturn to a position in which the starting cir- (No model.)

cuit or coil will be opened or otherwise rendered ineffective, and willremain in such condition while the lamp continues to act. In the presentinstance we have shown our invention as applied to a lamp in which thestarting circuit or coil consists of an auxiliary branch or circuitaround the carbons, and contains a starting electromagnetic coil. Insuch case the switch-governing magnet is naturally placed in thestarting-circuit; but such arrangement is obviously not necessary, andthe principle above set out may as well be carried out with otherarrangements in which other arrangements of starting coils or circuitsshall be employed, and in which the circuit of the controlling-magnetmight be independent of or separate from that of the starting-coil orother starting device.

Our invention consists, also, in certain other combinations of devicesand apparatus that will be specified more fully in the claims, theobjects of such combinations being to simplify the combinations orarrangement, and to fur- 'ther provide means whereby the coils of thehigh-resistance derived-circuit magnet may be 7 5 saved from injury uponthe failure of the lamp to feed, the latter object being effected byantomatically breaking the circuit of such coils.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a lamp,showing the application of our present invention to a lamp in which thestarting circuit or coil is an electromagnetic coil in a branch aroundthecarbons closed at starting of the lamp. Fig. 2 shows the position ofthe parts at the instant of breaking of the circuit of thehigh-resistance reg'u lating-coils. Fig. 3 shows the form offeedregulating magnet. Fig. 4 shows a modified disposition of thestarting and feed-regulating coils. Fig. 5 is a detail of construction.

Referring to Fig. l, R indicates the ordinary carbon-holder for theupper or positive carbon of an electric-arc lamp, and E E, respectively,the positive and negative carbons.

L indicates a feed-regulating lever, pivoted 9 5 at p, and acted upon bythe opposing influences of a retraetor, S, and of current flow-- ing ina high-resistance derived circuit around the carbons. The influence ofsuch current is brought to bear in the present case in the 1 0 ordinaryway by means of a high-rcsistancc magnet whose coils K are in theordinary high-resistance shunt around the carbons indicated by thenumeral 5, which magnet acts upon a core or armature connected. to L:The shunt 5 includes a circuit-breaker, Y, whose function is to open thecircuit 5 when the armature 13 is drawn down close to the head of ii.

The construction and operation of V will be described farther on.

1? is the pole oi the magnet, and 13 a perforated armature attached to Land embracing the conoidal or pairaboloidal pole 1. This form is adoptedin order that the magnet may exert the same pull upon the lever L in allpositions oi. the armature for the same strength of current. The magnet,wound with coils K, is preferably a horseshoe-1nagnet, as indicated inFig. 3. .lt is, however, to be understood that our invention is notlimited to any par ticular form or construction of the magnet system.

Lever Lis the feed regulating or controlling lever of the lamp, andserves to adjust the position of the carbons by acting directly orindirectly upon any suitable devices that will, when moved in onedirection, raise the upper carbon, and when moved in the other directiontoa certain extent will permit the carbon to feed or approach theopposite carbon. As typical. of such devices, we have herein shown aclamp or clutch connected with lever L by a link, I), so as to be raisedor lowered by said lover, or held stationary, according to the relativestrength of the current in the high-resistance regulating circuiit 5,and the strength of the retract-or tor the lever. An y other device ordevices may be used in place of the clutch, provided they be of propercon struction to cause a release of the carbon. when moved in onedirection, and to lift the carbon when moved in the opposite direction.The clutch here shown is of the form, hereto- 'l'ore invented by 1G.Thomson, and consists, briefly speaking, of a clamp body or guide, (J,through which. the carbon or carbon-carrier may move, a dog or toe, T,pivoted on said body and held normally in engagement with the carbon orcarrier by means of a spring, Z, applied to an arm extending from thetoe, so as to prevent the carbon from moving downward through theclutch, and a stop, l with which the arm engages to release the toe andpermit the carbon to feed down whenever the clamp is lowered to asullicient extent by the regulating-lever or other device L.

The starting-cirmiit is indicated by the numeral 7, and includes thecoils G, of low reristaucc, wound preferably on the same core with coilsK, as described and claimed in an application for patent filed by usJanuary 3, 188 1, No. 116,300. This circuit is completed whenever thearmature-lever L is retracted to an extreme position bythe contacts Q,one of whichis on said lever orsomc other portion of the lamp mechanismmoving therewith, and the other upon a switch or circuita-losing lever,(9,. The latter contact is shown as an insu lated contact on the end ofthe core ot' a. magnet, J, whose coils are also in the circuit 7.through the insulated circuit-closing lever (9', as indicated.

A retracting-spring for the switch Q, indicated at S. \Vhile the lamp isin .action this spring holds the switch raised to an extreme position,such that the lever L will. not close the contacts Q in its ordinarymovements in adjusting the carbons. An armature, for magnet J isattached to L, so that when the contacts (a are closed and cnrrcntllowsin the circuit 5, the levers Qaml L are compelled to move together, andthe contact at (Q, preserved by the action of said magnet during thedownward movement of the lever under the action of current in the coilG. The starting-cm cuit 7 is a branch around the carbons, and, as isohvious,is closed by contacts 3 when the lever L is retracted to itsextreme position, ow-

ing to the cessation of current in K, produced either by design oraccident. \Vhcn thus retracted, the upper carbon is raised, and, therebeing no contact between the carbons, current upon the general circuitmustpass in large measure through 7. If, however, the circuit. betweenthe carbons is completed, the current is shunted from the brarwh 7 andcoils of .1, so that the spring b" then opens the contacts 4,) andraises the lever Q, so as to leave and pie serve the lanip-circuits intheir ordinary or normal conditionviz., insuch condition that the pathsof the current consist only of a low resistance path through thecarbons, and a high-resistance reguletting-path through the coils K andaround the carbons. The circuitbreaker V moves in asuitableconductingguide, T and when at rest completes the circuit by closingcontacts (Z, the circuit from X' being then through T,'\', (I, the coilsoi K, and out at Y. The circuit-breaker carries a magnet, N, there shownas a permanent mag net' whose armature is armature Q for magnet J. Themagnet is arranged in the path ot' the armature, so that, as will beobvious, it said armature be lowered sul'ticiently, the mag net will bedrawn up and will stick to Q, thus opening contacts (I and breaking thecircuit 5 for coils K. The adjustments are such that when 13 is drawndown nearly llat upon the magnet, owing to an abnormal resistance in thearc branch, the permanent n'iagnet willbe so near to (Q? as to risetherctoand stick, opening the derived circuit at (Z. Upon an elevationofB it will continue soto stiek,and,being carried u1 \va1-d,will keepopen the derived ei rcuit through 1%: at (t. such that when the magnet Jis attracted to (Q the polarization induced byit in the ar1nature Q"shall be the opposite of that induced by M, the consequence being thatwhen current 'tlows in coils of J magnet M tails off and again closescontacts at (I. The adiustmcuts The adj ustmen ts are also scene arealso such that the spring S will, upon an abnormally-weak current in K,close the contacts Q, as before mentioned. The carbons E E are set asmall space apart before sending current through the lamp.

The operation is as follows: \Vhn the lamp is out of action, the partsassume the position shown in Fig. 1, and contacts Q are closed. Currententering at X, not finding circuit at E E, passes through coils G, ofcomparatively coarse wire, thence to L, to (,3. through J to Q, and outat Y. A very small portion of current passes from X through the veryfine- 1 wire coil K and out at Y, but its amount is insignificant oralmost ml. The passage of the current, as just described, energizes bothmagnet with coils K, and magnet J S, being a much weaker spring than S,the result is that B L descends, lowering clutch C, while magnetJ stillsticks to armature Q and keeps contacts Q closed. When, however, theearbons are permitted to make contact by the continued lowering ofclutch G, the current in large proportion leaves G and J to take thebranch through E E. This results in the springing away of Q. under theaction of S, and the starting-circuit 7 is opened at Q. The spring S nowasserts itself and separates the carbon, but is restrained in thataction by the consequent energizing of the derived-circuit magnet due tothe formation of an are at E. The lamp is now in charge ofhigh-resistance coil K, to regulate and feed the carbons by attractingits armature 13 against the action of its retractor. Should the carbonsby accidentslip too near together, the derivedcircuit magnet will berendered nearly inactive, the spring S will cause contact at Q, and theactions as at the start will be repeated. I It is advisable that adash-pot or other cheek, N, acting on L. be provided .to prevent toosudden movements. Should a long are form at E E, due to a failure tofeed, the armature B is drawn down, bringing armature Q, within range ofmagnet M, which latter jumps into contact with Q and opens contacts (I,as indicated in Fig. 2. The circuit is now complete only through the areat E E. The result is the retraction of B by S, followed by M untilcontact is established at Q, when M immediately drops cit, as beforedescribed. The closing of contacts Q diverts current into G, the are atE E is extinguished, and the actions as at the start of thelamp arerepeated, when, should the carbons again come into contact,

the are is again reestablished.

\Ve do not limit ourselves in any particular in the application of thedevices herein described to the purposes of our invention; but mayvariously modify them by equivalent constructions of a more or lesssimple character.

we have herein described a lamp in which the magnetizing effects of thecurrent are used for producing the desired mechanical opertions; but wewish it to be understood that we include as an equivalent ofclectro-magnetic coils any devices whereby mechanical effects may beproduced by electricity.

We make no broad claim herein to the combination, with the switch, ofthe magnet (elec tro or permanent) moving with the mechanism for keepingthe contacts together, as this forms the subject of claims in anapplication filed by E. Thomson, as sole inventor, Jannary 8, 18b4, No.116,746.

\Vhat we claim as our invention is 1. The combination, in an electriclamp havin g a starting circuit or coil in a branch around the carbons,ot' a circuitcontroller for completing said circuit, and aneleetro-magnet keeping the contacts of the circuit-controller ,incontact until the carbons come together,

and thus shunt the current from the electromagnet.

2. The combination, in an electric lamp, of an auxiliary or startingelectromagnetic coil in a branch. around the carbons, and anelectro-magnet in said branch for keeping said branch closed until thecarbons come together.

The combination, in an electric lamp, of a teed-regulatingarmature-lever, an electromagnetic coil'aeting upon the same to cause arelease of the carbons. and placed in an auxiliary branch around thecarbons, circuit-closing contacts for completing said branch, and anelectromagnet in said branch for acting on said contacts, whereby saidbranch may be kept closed until the carbons come into contact, and maythen be opened, owing to the shunting of current from the magnet.

4. The combination, in an electric lamp, of a high-resistance derivedcircuit, feed-regulating ll'lGChdlllSlll controlled by the currenttherein, an auxiliary branch containing an assisting-coil for bringingthe lamp into action, and an electro-magnet in said branch for keepingthe same closed until contact of the carbons is effected.

5. The combination, in an electric-arc lamp, of a high-resistancederived'circnit magnet, feed-regulati ng mechanism controlled thereby, acircuit-controller or switch for completing an auxiliary branch aroundthe carbons and through an assisting-coil wound 011 the same core withthe high-resistance derived-circuit 'magnet, and an electro-magnet inthe branch for keeping the circuit-controller in position to close thebranch until contact of the carbons is effected. V

(3. The combination, in an electric-arc lamp, of an auxiliary orstarting coil in a branch around the carbons, a freely-movablecircuitcloser, through which the branch is completed when the lampmechanism is retracted to an extreme position, and an electro-magnet andarmature for keepingthe contact-points of the circuit-closer togetherduring forward move ment of the mechanism, the coils of said magnetbeing in the branch, as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination, in an electric lamp, of

an auxiliary or starting circuit or coil in a branch around the carbons,a circuit-closing lever normally held out of range of the lampmechanism, but adapted to complete the starting-circuit when the lampmechanism is almormally retracted, and an clectro-magnet and armaturel'or compelling the parts of the circuit-closer to move together whenthe current is turned on, the coils of said magnet being in thestarting-circuit, so that when the carbons cometogether current will beshunted from said coils, and the actuator for the circuit-closing levermay open the branch and return said lever to its normal position.

a high-resistance regulatingcoil, a branch closed by the armature-leverthereof when abnormally retraetcd, and means for breaking the circuit ofsaid coil when the arcresistance becomes abnormally high.

9. The combination, in an electric lamp, of a h'iglii-resistancederived-circuit regulating coil, a circuit breaker and closercontrolling the circuit thereof, and a permanent magnet and armature,one connected to the lamp mechanism and the other to the circuitcloser,or vice versa, and arranged in the manner described, to open the circuitof the regulatingcoi'l upon an abnormal length of are, as and for thepurpose described.

10. The combination, in an electric lamp, of a circuit-breaker forbreaking the circuit of the derived-eirenit coils, a permanentmagnetconnected to said circuit-breaker, an armature carried by theiced-regulating mechanism, and an electro-ntlagnet in an auxiliary orstarting branch completed when the armature of the feed-rcgulatingmagnet is abnormally retracted, said electro-magnet being adjusted, inthe manner described, to act oppositely upon the armature for thepermanent magnet, so as to cause a release of the latter.

5. The combination, in an electric lamp, of

1.1. The combination, in an cleetriclamp, of

12. The combination, in an electric lamp, of

a starting coil or circuit and an electromag net in a branch around thecarbons for keeping said starting-circuit in proper condition until, bythe establishmentof contact between the carbons, said magnet shunted andthus opens the starting'circuit.

13. The combination, in an electrielamp, of

a starting circuit or coil, a circuit-controlleiwhereby said coil may bethrown into or out of operative condition, and an electro-magnct forholding the parts of said circuit-eontroller in proper relation to keepthe starting-circuit in operative condition, the coils of said magnetbeing in a branch around the carbons, so that the establishment ofcircuit between the latter will shunt current from the magnet, as andfor the purpose described.

14,-. The armature Q, in cmnbination with the magnet J in a branch, andthe magnet M of the circuit-breaker for coils K, said magnets beingarranged to polarize the armature reyersely, as and for the purpose de'scribed.

Signed at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of illassachusetts,this 1st day of January, A. D. 1884.

.ELIHU THOMSON. l \VILTZU' t RICE. lVitnesses:

ll. 0. \VAKnnin'Ln, E. 1%. Don's.

